* Send AROUND TOWN items to...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949)

574-4298. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well

as a contact phone number. A complete listing is available at

www.dailypilot.com.

FRIDAY

Santa arrives at the Orange County Market Place at part of the Day

After Thanksgiving Market Place. Admission will be free to all

shoppers today, as well as on Monday, Dec. 23 -- the day of the

Holiday Market Place. Santa will stick around for photos this weekend

and on weekends throughout December. The Market Place at the Orange

County Fairgrounds is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and on

weekends.

DEC. 2

First- to eighth-grade students are welcome to stop by the Balboa

Branch Library through Dec. 24 to make holiday crafts. From today

through Dec. 14, holiday cards will be made, and from Dec. 16 to Dec.

24, holiday ornaments will be created. There is no charge, and

registration is unnecessary. The library is at 100 E. Balboa Blvd.

It’s open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; and from 9 a.m.

to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. (949) 717-3800.

DEC. 4

The Orange County Sierra Singles Club will host a snow sports

training program from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m. at the Costa Mesa

Neighborhood Community Center. The program will focus on how to be

safe and prepare for winter sports such as backcountry skiing,

snowshoeing, hiking and snowboarding. $10. The center is at 1845 Park

Ave. $10. For information, call (714) 963-6345.

DEC. 8

The third annual Holiday Classic Car Show and Pedal Car

Invitational featuring a toy drive to benefit Project Cuddle will be

held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Automotive Road of Dreams area of

the Orange County Market Place. Cars decked out for the holidays will

be judged in several categories. Car show participants bringing an

unwrapped toy or clothing item will receive free show registration.

Also held at the Orange County Market Place on the Orange County

Fairgrounds will be Christmas Karaoke. It will be in the Artisans’

and Crafters’ Corner. (949) 723-6663 or www.ocmarketplace.com.

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce’s 24th annual Christmas

Walk Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Corona del Mar

Plaza. Stores at the plaza and along Coast Highway between Avocado

Avenue and Poppy Street will be open for food sampling, entertainment

and, of course, shopping. Festivities will include story time with

Mrs. Claus; crafts for children; an elf with balloons for youngsters;

ornament decorating; holiday cookie decorating; and a treasure hunt.

Holiday carolers will sing all day and the Corona del Mar High School

Madrigal Singers will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. Dog owners can also

get their pets’ picture taken with Santa between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The plaza is at MacArthur Boulevard and Coast Highway in Newport

Beach. (949) 790-9713 or www.ShopTheIrvine-

Company.com.

DEC. 23

The Holiday Market Place (also known as the Orange County Market

Place) at the Orange County Fairgrounds will offer free admission

today. Santa will be around for photos. The Market Place at the

Orange County Fairgrounds is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.